New Mexico Attorney General Releases Yearly Report
By: Karl Wehmhoener
Updated: February 21, 2012
SANTE FE -- New Mexico Attorney General Gary King declared a very productive year for his office in 2011.
The report was delivered to Legislators at the end of the last session. It details some of the major activities from each of the agency's divisions.
The following are excerpts:
"The Attorney Generals Office Government Accountability Division secured guilty pleas on a number of charges filed against former PRC Commissioner Jerome Block, Jr. for misuse of public monies and resources. He was ordered to make restitution to the State and agreed to never again run for public office in New Mexico. Our plea agreement with Block, Jr. made a planned legislative impeachment proceeding unnecessary, thereby saving taxpayers the high cost of that action. [The defendant is currently incarcerated on orders from his trial judge to undergo a 60-day psychological evaluation at a state prison facility before the judge imposes final sentencing.]
Our Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit is responsible for a significant increase in felony prosecutions involving sexual exploitation of children. During my administration, 56 child predator or child pornography cases have been prosecuted or are pending prosecution.
In a lawsuit to protect New Mexicos precious water resources, the agency's Water, Environment, and Utilities Division filed suit against the U.S. Department of Interior to strike down the 2008 Operating Agreement for the Rio Grande Project which we contend illegally takes water that should be allocated to New Mexico farmers and allocates it to farmers in the State of Texas.
Our DWI Resource Prosecutor successfully prosecuted several challenging DWI cases involving significant policy issues. We continue to be leaders in combating the DWI problem in New Mexico. Please see the full report for details
Our Consumer Protection Division has recovered almost $4 million dollars on behalf of consumers and continues to fight against unfair mortgage foreclosure practices, debt collection frauds, and predatory lending.
I am extremely proud that Attorney Generals Office personnel have accomplished so much, particularly while operating within reduced or flat budgetary appropriations. We pledge to continue finding ways to better serve the people of New Mexico and I look forward to working with Legislators and the Governor to accomplish the tasks entrusted to all of us elected officials by our constituents. Thank you for your continued support as we embrace the work ahead for the remainder of 2012."
The report was delivered to Legislators at the end of the last session. It details some of the major activities from each of the agency's divisions.
The following are excerpts:
"The Attorney Generals Office Government Accountability Division secured guilty pleas on a number of charges filed against former PRC Commissioner Jerome Block, Jr. for misuse of public monies and resources. He was ordered to make restitution to the State and agreed to never again run for public office in New Mexico. Our plea agreement with Block, Jr. made a planned legislative impeachment proceeding unnecessary, thereby saving taxpayers the high cost of that action. [The defendant is currently incarcerated on orders from his trial judge to undergo a 60-day psychological evaluation at a state prison facility before the judge imposes final sentencing.]
Our Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit is responsible for a significant increase in felony prosecutions involving sexual exploitation of children. During my administration, 56 child predator or child pornography cases have been prosecuted or are pending prosecution.
In a lawsuit to protect New Mexicos precious water resources, the agency's Water, Environment, and Utilities Division filed suit against the U.S. Department of Interior to strike down the 2008 Operating Agreement for the Rio Grande Project which we contend illegally takes water that should be allocated to New Mexico farmers and allocates it to farmers in the State of Texas.
Our DWI Resource Prosecutor successfully prosecuted several challenging DWI cases involving significant policy issues. We continue to be leaders in combating the DWI problem in New Mexico. Please see the full report for details
Our Consumer Protection Division has recovered almost $4 million dollars on behalf of consumers and continues to fight against unfair mortgage foreclosure practices, debt collection frauds, and predatory lending.
I am extremely proud that Attorney Generals Office personnel have accomplished so much, particularly while operating within reduced or flat budgetary appropriations. We pledge to continue finding ways to better serve the people of New Mexico and I look forward to working with Legislators and the Governor to accomplish the tasks entrusted to all of us elected officials by our constituents. Thank you for your continued support as we embrace the work ahead for the remainder of 2012."
